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Home My WebLink About6/20/2018 - Minutes The Economic DevelopmentAuthority of Roanoke County Roanoke County Administration Center 4th Floor Training Room 5204 Bernard Drive Roanoke,Virginia 24018 Minutes Wednesday,June 20,2018 The Economic Development Authority of Roanoke County,,Virginia met this day at the Roanoke County Administration Center. Members Present Chairman-Steve Musselwhite Vice Chairman-Woody Windley Greg,Apostolou Max Beyer Kirtesh Patel Jill Loope, Secretary-Treasurer Glenna Ratcliffe,Recording Clerk Members Absent Steve Anderson Leon McGhee Kyle Richardson Ssunny Shah Guest Evan.Malone,Financial Analyst;Ashley Anderson,Finance Manager;Maly Beth Nash; Assistant County Attorney;Adam Taylor,Director of Catawba Sustainability Center CALL TO ORDER Chairman Steve Musselwhite determined a quorum was established and called the meeting to order at.900 a.m. REQUEST TO POSTPONE, ADD TO, OR CHANGE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA ITEMS { In the interest of time for the presenter, Ms. Loope requested to move the presentation/update on Catawba Sustainability Center as the first agenda item. PRESENTATION/UPDATE ON CATAWBA STJSTAINABILITY CENTER Adam-Taylor,Director of the Catawba Sustainability Center,gave a presentation on the Catawba Sustainability Center. Virginia Tech's Catawba Sustainability Center is a 377 acre farm. property situated in the beautiful Catawba Valley of Virginia and serves as.a living laboratory to 1 • • • Page 2 June 20,2018 Economic Development Authority Minutes • advance environmental stewardship and community engagement to provide a learning • environment for the research,teaching, and demonstration of sustainable practices in agriculture, • forestry,and land management. ,The Center's programming encourages learning, discovery, and engagement among local and international communities, industry leaders, arid non-profit • organizations. • Mr. Taylor reviewed infrastructure updates which included fencing, a picnic shelter which is an Eagle Scout,project, agroforestry products, the greenway trail going through the farm (Blue Blaze Trail), and sewer line testing for installation of bathroom facilities. He provided.2017 and - 2018 highlights, which included wetland design and construction, small farm incubator, beekeeping workshops, agroforestry products, farmers market, Lord Botetourt FFA- potato project, cooperative research grants, a cornucopia project demonstration and a fruit orchard estate to name a few. 2018 highlights included research on non-native crayfish, tapping black • walnut trees, a hobby drone project,fruit orchard demonstration and a weather webcam project. • Catawba Sustainability Center's objective is to grow viable, independent farm businesses and to. serve as a model new-fanner program by providing access to land and resources in a low-risk • - environment. • - Ms. Loope thanked Mr. Taylor for his presentation outlining the'exciting projects at the Catawba • Sustainability Center. - APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 21 AND APRIL 18,2018 MINUTES After a motion by Woody Windley and a second by Kirtesh Patel,the minutes of the February 21 and April 18 were approved by unanimous voice vote. FINANCE REPORT • Evan Malone, Financial Analyst, reviewed the information provided on the financial report for the month ending May 31, 2018. A motion made by Max Beyer and seconded by Woody - Windley to accept and approve the financial report as presented. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. • • NEW BUSINESS • WOOD HAVEN ROAD REZONING, Ms. Loope stated a community meeting will be held on June 27 regarding a land use application filed with the Roanoke County Department of Community Development by the Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority. The request is to rezone 113.6 acres from R-1,Low • Intensity Residential District and 1-1, Low Intensity Industrial District to PTD,Planned Technology Development District for a Technology Park located along Wood Haven Road and Thirlane Road, in the Catawba Magisterial District. Page 3 June 20,2018 Economic Development Authority Minutes A community meeting regarding this request will be held Wednesday,June 27, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. in the Northside High School Auditorium, 6758 Northside High School Road. Ms. Loope encouraged members to attend. Please note that in addition to the community meeting, this petition is scheduled for a public hearing before the Planning Commission on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at 7:00 p.m., in the Board Meeting Room at the Roanoke County Administration Center, 5204 Bernard Drive. In addition, the petition is scheduled for a public hearing before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, at 7:00 p.m., in the Board Meeting Room at the Roanoke County Administration Center, 5204 Bernard Drive. Woody Windley asked if there was a target company for the property. Ms. Loope stated that target companies generally include high profile projects with significant economic impact. In response to a query by Steve Musselwhite, she stated there currently are no active prospects as the push for prospects will only begin when all the pieces are in place and a marketing plan established. Max Beyer asked if she anticipated further concern regarding the community. Ms. Loope stated there are public concerns with the project, but efforts have been made to address these concerns by incorporating citizen input into the master plan. UPDATE ON HOLLINS AND OAK GROVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS Ms. Loope gave an update on the Hollins and Oak Grove Community Meetings. She stated there is much activity in both areas. She reviewed the survey results of both communities, the stakeholder interview results summary,the Roanoke County Schools outreach and major themes. The survey will be available until June 30,2018 and she encouraged members to take the survey. The draft planning study will be available in the summer. In September and October,joint City of Roanoke/Roanoke County Planning Commission meeting will be held to discuss plan recommendations. Draft plan community meetings will be held in the fall with public hearings to follow in the winter. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATES At this time, Jill Loope gave an update of Economic Development activities. The former Allstate building is soon to be 100%leased with Metis Holdings expediting their move into the facility by the end of this year. They had previously planned to move into the facility in 2019 but they recently sold their building on Jefferson Street in the City which has expedited their move. A press release is being planned soon to announce the new tenants and current occupancy. Page 4 June 20,2018 Economic Development Authority Minutes Tanglewood Mall continues to work on recruiting national tenants for the out parcel development,as previously discussed. To date,they have secured leases with three businesses for the proposed new buildings, and three is a pending contract on a free standing restaurant. They have successfully renegotiated leases with TJ Maxx and Staples allowing for another out parcel development in front of their space,paving the way for a third building long Route 419. A"Grant re-opening" ribbon cutting announcing the completion of the Staples remodel is scheduled for Friday, June 22nd at 11 a.m.hosted by the Roanoke Regional Chamber. The sale of the Cox Communications building is getting very close. They are currently negotiating a contract with a local buyer, including Cox business operations remaining as a tenant once the sale is complete. It is expected this will occur this fall,pending successful contract negotiations. This is the closest they have come to date to securing a contract,and we are encouraged by this forward momentum. The Cardinal Glass expansion project has increased to 12,000 sq. ft. (up from the previously planned 3,000 sq. ft.),bringing the increased investment from$6.7 million to more than $8 million. The press release announcing this project is expected to go out from the Governor's office soon,pending final corporate approval. We continue to work with Harris Corporation and the Governor's office to reschedule an event or press release announcing their expansion this summer. The concern is over the actual dollar amount of the investment that Harris is comfortable with releasing publicly due to competition within their industry. We should know something more within a few weeks. A press release is scheduled to go out from the Governor's office on June 21 at 11 a.m. announcing Magnet's USA's $1.5 million expansion and re-training assistance from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. We are working with the TRU by Hilton owners to schedule their grand opening event in July. The Macado's Restaurant is targeting their grand opening for August. The Grand opening for the completion of the William Byrd High School project is targeted for October. The ribbon cutting for the completion of the Plantation Road project is expected to be in July. Page 5 June 20,2018 Economic Development Authority Minutes Lancerlot in Vinton has been sold and professional ice hockey will be going back in. Colonial Downs off-site betting being discussed again. The former Vinton Motors building is close to a deal. The Board of Supervisors is planning a series of work sessions regarding our economic development strategic direction. She stated she is giving a presentation on June 28 detailing goals and objectives. Ms. Loope encouraged members to attend. These work sessions will include national as well as local economic development conditions, workforce, demographic and key economic development drivers, etc. The Board will conduct three to four work sessions over the next six months. Ms. Loope pointed out the Board meeting to scheduled June 28 is on a Thursday rather than the usual Tuesday meeting day. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 a.m. • NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next regularly meeting is scheduled July 18, 2018. Respectfully submitted, Ji oope Secretary-Treasurer